I have been hearing about this Dillard’s outlet that was about 45 minutes from me (located in Niles, OH) and for my birthday last weekend I decided to just drive down there and see what I would find…… boy was I in heaven!!!

I found this Red Preston and York Jacket (reg. $119) for only $20 and these amazing Gianni Bini red pumps (reg. $120) for only $15! These are just deals that are too good to pass up right?! I decided to keep it simple and pair them with some black leggings and a black t-shirt you can find at Walmart for about $2-$3 each. If you are ever looking for a good pair of pump that you can last in for hours Gianni Bini has been my go-to shoe and they last for a long time if you take care of them (meaning you don’t leave them in your car during the summer months in extreme hot temps I accidentally did that and had to repair a pair- I’ll post that later lol.)

One of the things I love to do while on my layovers is shop in the airports and I found one of those stores where everything is $10 (yes you guessed right) I found this cute little clutch for only $10 so that carried out my pop of print that I chose to complete my look.

Because I was already wearing a scarf you want to keep your jewelry simple so I went with a simple gold choker I found at clothes mentor for $2 just like that you have a complete look under $60 from head to toe!

Wow! It’s been waaay to long since I’ve posted but I have had some pretty awesome adventures and I can’t wait to share them with you!! The first being able to find this cute & chic boutique quaintly located in Barberton, Ohio. She does one-on-one personal shopping and styling appointments to make sure her guests get the personal shopping experience they deserve. LOVE THAT!! So naturally we decided to collaborate so I can show you how to style some of her pieces and where you can get them locally from a small business owner.

I’m not normally a tutu wearer but when I saw it I absolutely fell in love plus I had the matching shoes! Sometimes you find some nice creations when putting random pieces together and that’s what you will notice below. This denim pearl jacket, a plain white t-shirt, and tutu can be jazzed up with heels for a night out with the girls or taken down a little less formal with white tennis shoes.

What do you think, can I rock the tutu??

“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.” —Gianni Versace

Ya’ll Know I love a nice trench coat and this camo trench is EVERYTHING! This coat can be paired with a white, black or tan bodycon dress for a flirty look or jeans and boots for a more casual look. This coat goes from day to night very easily and would look great on any skin tone.

On the rack you would totally overlook this beauty but is was so cute and comfortable to wear. We stepped out the box and paired this brown dress with pink accessories and it melted together so beautifully. Sometimes with fashion you just have to be daring and try something that doesn’t always seem like the obvious choice because I was originally going to go with gold. What do you think – did the pink work?

Here we have a grey jumpsuit that is light enough to wear in the summer and still have the ability to layer underneath for the winter. The material is so soft. We decided to try a couple colors and they both turned out well! When you are wearing off the should items it is good to style your hair to sweep away from your neck or sit right at your neck line. If you sweep your hair up make sure you have on a statement necklace or earings that are eye catching! Let’s talk about this fanny pack – I said I would never wear one BUT I would totally make an exceeption with this one because they fit the outfit and matched my shoes perfectly! The good thing about grey is that you can pair it with so many colors and not go wrong.

Behind the Scenes with Body Boutique!

I found this super cute boutique here in Akron, Oh and they have some looks that I know you all will love. I will be posting a couple of the looks we chose to let you all peek in on! You can also order online at their website Body Boutique. They are located inside of the OnPointe Beauty Salon

Their address is:

343 w.exchange St.,

Akron, OH 44320

Have you seen these chrome silver shoes???!!!!! OMG they are soooo beautiful on and they are true to the mirror finish! You can find them on sale through the link below at Macy’s. Don’t forget to sign up for ebates and purchase them through there for additional savings.

(Purchase Shoes)

This Jumpsuit is $45 but you’ll have to hurry up and get it if you want it they only stock a few of each item to keep everyone exclusive! (Sunglasses and necklace are also from the boutique)

2 Staples you should always have in your closet

A statement necklace and a turtleneck! I found this simple turtleneck at forever 21 on sale for $1.99 and this necklace to die for at the thrift store for $5.

While in Rome EVERYONE was wearing these cute tights with designs and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to express myself one more way with fashion! I love anything with hearts especially that help keep me warm while it’s cold outside.

I sat looking at my vision board thinking about the goals I have for the year and my theme is “Make your own opportunities.” This is the story of how I came to embody that theme….

Last year, I started thinking about all the plans I had and the things I was going to do for the year. I had one goal in particular that I went after that seemed a little impossible. You see this goal was totally out of my comfort zone, I really wasn’t fully qualified and not 100% sure how it would turn out. There was a contest Lebron James had for a TV show called Cleveland Hustles. I saw the criteria for applying and talked myself out of it thinking “you know they won’t pick a salon”, “your business isn’t established enough”, “don’t waste your time or energy because you just won’t get it.” I’m sure many of you have doubted yourselves and talked yourself out of doing something at one point in life.

Fast forward, I watch the show and guess what business was on there???? You guessed right, a salon! I wanted to shoot myself in the foot!! I could have been the salon chosen to be on the show but now I’ll never know because I took my ownself out of the running. That day as I watched another woman who didn’t let fear stop her live out a potentially life changing opportunity I decided I would NEVER let that happen again. That day I decided if I had the thought to do something I would go after it, ready for rejection, but knowing whatever or whoever would have to tell me No! No longer would my own voice say it and no longer would I disqualify myself in my mind.

So I’m thinking (my mind clearly never stops going) about how I approach opportunity and I’ve simply decided that I’m not waiting on her to knock on my door anymore. (And you shouldn’t either) The reason : while you’re waiting on opportunity to knock at your door, I’ve gone and knocked on her front door and have the understanding that if she doesn’t answer the front door I’m going around back.  She can’t come knock on your door when someone has already occupied her time. You have to be relentless in your pursuit of your dreams. You can’t let the No’s stop you and  sometimes you have to remind yourself to get out of your own way. We talk ourselves out of so many things that have the potential to be game changers in our journey. I have found that even if I don’t hit the target I still get some amazing failures. I can live with the failures I can’t live with the what if’s…..

Challenge: Write down things you would do if fear wasn’t present. Then go after them!

I love a good challenge at times and for my birthday I decided to challenge myself in another country! Well the good news is that it went better than planned. This was my first real trip outside of the United States with just my friend and excitement to lead the way! Below you will learn some tips and tricks to planning your next overseas trip and doing it without breaking the bank!

Flight

The first obstacle is finding a cheap airline ticket. I used Ebates to locate a cheap flight and get a percentage of your money back. You can book the flight on your credit card for rewards points or go to your local grocery store that gives you rewards for buying gift certificates (after you choose the airline or website you can buy a gift certificate to it). This way you are able to get your flights and rewards. The best time to visit on a budget is off season which spans from late October-March.

Hotel

The second obstacle is finding a hotel – Fortunately I was able to have a friend hook me up but you can look on the different websites (Ebates) and be sure to check the reviews as well as looking for the hotel on YouTube or trip advisor for any reviews on there. Airbnb is also a good option.

Fun, Fun, Fun!

When trying to find things to do you can use the “get your guide” app to find discount tickets for fun activities like a delicious food walking tour in Rome or a gondola ride through Venice. If a guide is offered definitely go for that option because what you are experiencing means so much more.

Communication & Phones

Of course you need your phone to take pictures. In Europe they have different outlets so don’t forget to head to Ebates and get your European power adapter  for $7.99 from target. On my next trip I would take a digital camera for the ability to take more pictures and not worry about dead phone batteries.)

No international phone plan? I decided not to get an international phone plan for a couple of reasons

1. I wanted to finally cut off from my everyday life and just enjoy and be engulfed in the culture of Italy without distractions
2. I am on a prepaid plan with Verizon and they don’t offer a international plan but I was told that I could get a sim card while over there and use that for international calling.
3. Being cheap. Now what you should know is that the sim card you get while over there only allows you to call emergency and in country numbers. The alternative is to download 2 different apps “What’s App” and “Google Hangouts” which allows you to make video or regular calls and texts via a wifi signal. Just keep in mind that apps like your gps and get your guide only work with wifi so download everything you need (tickets) while you’re connected.

Getting around- So that may have been the easiest thing to do even if your awful with directions like I am. The language barrier was not as big of a deal as you would think. The people of Rome were so welcoming and open to show the way to areas such as the Vatican and the Colosseum. The trick is to have a map. I made sure I had a map and the areas that I wanted to go I showed the locals and they pointed the way! Some places do offer free days so you just need to research when they are. When we walked up to the Colosseum we were offered a walking tour (with access to the arena floor) with a bonus tour to the Roman Forum for only $30. (Way cheaper than what we found online)

(Vatican)                                                         (Colosseum)

If you are planning to go to different countries the Eurail Pass (https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/one-country-pass) is the most cost effective way to get there. (You can also use Ebates on this purchase as well) Note you will have to buy it in enough time to have it mailed to you! If you don’t have it mailed to you, you can still purchase it at the train station but you may not get the discount they offer online unless you get a good person at the desk who is willing to give you the discount. If you’ve ever traveled on the subway you can catch a train for 1.50 around town each way and have a ball. Just remember to find out the time the last one runs. If your not comfortable you can catch a uber. Just remember if you don’t have a phone plan you won’t be able to use your phone to call unless your connected to wifi.

*A tip on being safe – we were looking for a cab because we missed the last bus and a guy came up and offered us a cheaper rate to take us back. Now he claimed to be a cab type service I just know the only thought that came to my mind was that if I get into this car I may not make it back. Budgets go out the window when it comes to safety!

Money

It’s best to get your money exchanged before you go. If your bank does it for free get your money exchanged there because you will have a fee anywhere else. Check with your credit card company to see if they offer a free foreign transaction rate. If they don’t be sure to see how much each swipe will cost you. Most places take Visa, very few take American Express.

Pro’s of the trip – Rome was absolutely beautiful and easy to get around. The Gelato was to DIE for – best I ever had in my life!

Con’s of Italy – The food was not as good as anticipated (sad face). We were told towards the end of the trip the best food places close around 3 or 4 p.m. Traveling in November was pretty  rainy, out of 5 days it rained 3 days. Probably best to go before November even though it’s a little more expensive. Do not think about renting a car in Rome, stick with the bus, train, or cab/uber.

Outfit Details:

NEVER be afraid to make a statement with a pop of color. Red symbolizes power, leadership, determination and passion.

Moto Jackets are my favorite jacket of the season! You can get these for a great deal at Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, Fashion Nova and SheIn. You can dress these up or down allowing them to be worn to a baseball game or a networking cocktail hour while saying “I’m casual” but take note “I’m serious about my business!”

Sometimes we miss the hidden opportunities like shopping at the airport on a layover for instance. I found this gold beauty (necklace) for only $10 at the Detroit Airport.

Outfit Details:

~Floppy Hat: Kohls (can also find at walmart)

~Moto Jacket : Shein.com

~Purse: I found this beauty while traveling the streets of Milan, Italy

~Suede Boots: “Kris” on Amazon